StarCoder2 15B vs IBM Granite 3.1 8B
Compare StarCoder2 15B and IBM Granite 3.1 8B: pricing, performance, context window, latency, and best use cases. Side-by-side comparison on XALEN.
Updated 2026-05-21 · By Abhishek Raj · Our methodology
| Feature | StarCoder2 15B | IBM Granite 3.1 8B |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Code | Enterprise |
| Parameters | 15B | 8B |
| Context Window | 16K | 128K |
| Input Price | $0.02/1M tokens | $0.01/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $0.03/1M tokens | $0.02/1M tokens |
| Latency | ~150ms | ~80ms |
Choose StarCoder2 15B when:
- ✓ Code completion
- ✓ Code generation
- ✓ Bug fixing
Strong coding, 600+ languages, Open weights
Choose IBM Granite 3.1 8B when:
- ✓ Regulated industries
- ✓ Enterprise compliance
- ✓ IBM ecosystem
Enterprise compliance, IP indemnification, 128K context
Verdict: StarCoder2 15B vs IBM Granite 3.1 8B
For cost efficiency, IBM Granite 3.1 8B wins at $0.01/1M input tokens. For speed, StarCoder2 15B is faster at ~150ms. StarCoder2 15B excels at Code completion while IBM Granite 3.1 8B is better for Regulated industries. Both are available on XALEN through a single API — try them in the Playground to see which fits your workload.
Detailed Analysis
Pricing Comparison
StarCoder2 15B costs $0.02/1M input tokens and $0.03/1M output tokens. IBM Granite 3.1 8B costs $0.01 input and $0.02 output. IBM Granite 3.1 8B is 2.0x cheaper on input tokens. XALEN offers batch processing at 50% discount on both models.
Performance & Context
StarCoder2 15B has a 16K context window with ~150ms latency. IBM Granite 3.1 8B offers 128K context at ~80ms. IBM Granite 3.1 8B has the larger context window.
Best For
StarCoder2 15B (Code) is optimized for: Code completion, Code generation, Bug fixing. IBM Granite 3.1 8B (Enterprise) works best for: Regulated industries, Enterprise compliance, IBM ecosystem.
Try Both on XALEN
Both models are available through XALEN's OpenAI-compatible API. Switch between them by changing the model parameter:
from xalen import XALEN
client = XALEN(api_key="xln_test_YOUR_KEY")
# Use StarCoder2 15B
response_a = client.chat.completions.create(
model="starcoder2-15b",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Your question here"}]
)
# Use IBM Granite 3.1 8B
response_b = client.chat.completions.create(
model="granite-3-1-8b",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Your question here"}]
)Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, StarCoder2 15B or IBM Granite 3.1 8B?
StarCoder2 15B (Code, 15B) offers Strong coding. IBM Granite 3.1 8B (Enterprise, 8B) offers Enterprise compliance. Choose StarCoder2 15B for Code completion or IBM Granite 3.1 8B for Regulated industries.
How much does StarCoder2 15B cost vs IBM Granite 3.1 8B?
StarCoder2 15B: $0.02/1M input, $0.03/1M output. IBM Granite 3.1 8B: $0.01/1M input, $0.02/1M output. Both available on XALEN with batch processing at 50% discount.
Can I use both models on XALEN?
Yes. XALEN provides 200+ models through a single OpenAI-compatible API. Switch between StarCoder2 15B and IBM Granite 3.1 8B by changing the model parameter. No code changes needed.
Related Comparisons
Last updated: 2026-05-21. Pricing and specifications may change. Check pricing page for latest rates.